Each April, Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) challenges professionals and communities to stand with survivors, increase the level of their prevention work, and explore how systems can better respond to sexual violence. For victim service providers and social workers, this is not just symbolic awareness — it’s a chance to further trauma-informed practices, create new partnerships, and amplify the voices that are too often muted.
Although survivor support work is done every day, SAAM provides an opportunity to make this work more visible and effective and further build awareness. This year’s theme, Together We Act, United We Change, highlights the collective power of communities working together to build safer spaces and end sexual violence.
It’s a call to unite across sectors and communities, recognizing that sexual violence is a public health issue that leaves deep, lasting effects on us all. With that in mind, here are some ideas for Sexual Assault Awareness Month that can help you get involved and rally support for survivor services.
Understanding Sexual Assault Awareness Month
SAAM was officially launched in 2001, but it’s rooted in decades of grassroots activism and survivor activism. The movement initially picked up speed with the establishment of rape crisis centers in the 1970s and Take Back the Night marches, which brought public attention to the harsh realities of sexual violence. SAAM takes that a step further today by challenging individuals and institutions alike to learn, listen, and act to prevent sexual assault and support survivors.
For practitioners, SAAM offers a moment to pause and pose more difficult questions: Are we actually creating spaces in which survivors can feel safe? Are our services for survivors accessible to marginalized communities? Are we equipping ourselves and our staff with the tools to respond emphatically, dependably, and without judgment?
SAAM matters because it makes room for accountability — not only from the public, but also within our own institutions. This month should ideally be the launching point for an ongoing conversation, an honest consideration of how we can move toward a world that’s free from sexual violence.
Key Campaigns to Participate In
In April, campaigns like the Purple Ribbon Campaign and “#ThisIsDV” offer powerful ways to raise awareness, foster a dialogue, and inspire meaningful action. More than just symbolic, these initiatives serve as crucial entry points for community engagement and change.
The Purple Ribbon Campaign, for example, is a recognizable gesture of solidarity with survivors. When paired with educational materials or storytelling activities, it becomes a catalyst for deeper conversations. Placing ribbons in schools, shelters, or public spaces — alongside prompts that encourage people to define what support means to them — helps cultivate a shared language of caring and connection.
The “#ThisIsDV” campaign offers another layer of context, underscoring that sexual violence is often part of deeper patterns of violence. It’s especially useful for schools or workplace training programs, where gaining an understanding of the complexity of sexual and domestic violence can shift the way people react to disclosures or recognize red flags.
It’s also important to keep the Sexual Assault Awareness Month Day of Action in mind. Typically held on the first Tuesday of April, this national day encourages individuals, organizations, and communities to wear teal, share survivor-centered resources, and speak out online and in public spaces about sexual violence. It’s a powerful way to generate visibility and momentum at the beginning of the month — and to signal a shared commitment to prevention and survivor support.
Integrating these campaigns into everyday spaces amplifies their reach and impact. Organizations can assist by:
- Placing SAAM images or Sexual Assault Awareness Month flyers in break rooms or window displays for employees
- Printing hotline information on receipts, bookmarks, or newsletters
- Co-sponsoring events with local shelters or support agencies
- Posting survivor-centered media or testimonies online
- Having advocates offer consent or bystander training
- Providing fundraising support to local victim service agencies
- Including the National Sexual Assault Hotline (1-800-656-HOPE) on all awareness materials, flyers, and social media posts to ensure survivors can quickly access confidential support
When businesses approach awareness not as a marketing device but as a responsibility, they become vital allies.
Community Engagement Events
Public events for Sexual Assault Awareness Month have the capacity to evoke awareness and introspection that goes beyond typical messaging. Public events allow individuals to witness the impact of sexual violence, feel connected, and access new resources — often all in one space.
The Brides’ March is a case in point. It originated in memory of Gladys Ricart, a bride who was murdered by a physically abusive ex-partner on her wedding day. Attendees wear wedding dresses or white attire to symbolize the lives lost through gender-based violence. For victim service agencies, organizing or participating in a local Brides’ March can be a powerful way to center stories that are often left out of the mainstream narrative. It also provides a visual, emotional medium to facilitate deeper conversations around prevention and justice.
Similarly, the Silent Witness Display offers a haunting but necessary space to acknowledge lives lost to sexual and domestic violence. Life-sized silhouettes — each representing a real person — stand in silence, paired with their stories. The installations may be in public buildings, libraries, or community centers, with passersby invited to reflect and engage.
Utilizing Resources From the Office of Justice Programs
The Office of Justice Programs (OJP) is an underused resource for many victim service agencies. During SAAM, it can be an operational tool kit and a strategic partner. The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) also provides downloadable survivor-facing resources in multiple languages. These include flyers explaining victims’ rights, what to expect following an assault, and where to find help. Such resources can be great for SAAM events, hospital affiliates, or police departments with limited victim service teams.
OVC’s Training and Technical Assistance Center (TTAC) also offers free online training for trauma-informed practices, outreach methodology, and interagency collaboration — including modules tailored for Assault Advocate and Service Provider Training. Utilizing these tools can save you time and confirm that your messaging is aligned with national best practices.
Supporting Through Fundraising and Donations
While SAAM is highly centered around awareness, it’s also an opportunity to channel that energy into monetary support. Fundraising during the month allows organizations to build up their services and help more survivors over the long run. And for community members who are unsure of how to get involved, donating acts as a tangible way to take action.
Here are some ideas to help you get started on SAAM fundraising and donation gathering:
- Narrative-based crowdfunding campaigns: Use survivor-informed storytelling (with full support and permission) to show the real-world impact of your services. Pair these stories with tangible funding goals — e.g., “$150 pays for a one-week emergency hotel stay for a survivor fleeing violence.”
- Donation matching partnerships: Partner with local businesses to match donations from the community in April. This not only raises funds but also solidifies your presence in the community and shows that the private sector is concerned with survivor welfare.
- SAAM giving tool kit: Simplify it so that supporters can quickly raise funds on your behalf. Include sample social media language, graphics, talking points, and donation page links. Encourage peer-to-peer fundraising to tap into new networks.
- Monthly giving program: Use the month’s visibility to promote or introduce a “sustainer circle.” Repeated gifts — even $10 monthly — can stabilize long-term funding, especially for critical under-resourced services like court accompaniment or childcare.
- Community drives for non-cash donations: Not everyone can give cash, but some will donate supplies. Create a wish list of high-priority items, like new clothing, gift cards, journals, prepaid phones, or self-care packages, and stage drop-off locations at local businesses or schools.
Collaborating With Local Organizations
No one agency can accomplish everything. That’s why partnerships are crucial — not only during SAAM, but also throughout the year. Start by mapping out your local network of support: Who provides counseling, legal services, housing, medical exams, culturally sensitive care, or access to trauma-informed treatments like cognitive processing therapy? Invite them with a proposal to co-create. Rape crisis centers, domestic violence programs, culturally specific organizations that advocate for victims, and community mental health centers can all serve as great partners.
Co-sponsored activities like community walks, resource fairs, or trauma-informed training programs allow multiple organizations to pool their strengths together. Think about launching a unified campaign or SAAM calendar. Survivors are best served when the systems within which they’re nested are aligned and educated.
To build long-term relationships, it’s prudent to think past any single event. Set up joint planning meetings, arrange for resource sharing, and even submit collaborative grant requests.
Educating and Empowering Others
True prevention starts with knowledge. Whether you’re running a school-based program or facilitating a workplace session, the goal is to shift not just the understanding but also the behavior.
SAAM is a chance to amplify your educational influence. Consider partnering with sexual assault centers to host peer-facilitated workshops in high schools or colleges, give parent information nights on teen dating violence, or host public bystander training sessions. When possible, record your events and share them online to reach a broader audience. Sharing downloadable tip sheets or myth-busting reels on social media can also go a long way toward breaking down the stigma and starting important conversations.
These small educational moments really add up. They can create a ripple effect in our communities, equipping individuals with the tools needed to recognize and intervene in instances of sexual harassment.
Encouraging Survivor Stories and Testimonies
When presented on their own terms, survivor narratives can transform policy and culture as well as instill a sense of unity and healing. Agencies can launch anonymous storytelling campaigns online, open mic events, or reflection walls. Survivors can also be invited to write and post their narratives in blogs or on podcasts. By amplifying these voices, we can empower and validate survivors’ experiences while helping others to find the courage to share their own stories.
Not all survivors will want to share their stories in a traditional way — and that’s OK. Leave space for them to decide how they’d like to contribute to a campaign or event, offering creative control over how their voice is represented. That might mean choosing the music for a video, designing the artwork for a poster, or shaping the format of a storytelling session. A story doesn’t have to be spoken aloud to be seen, felt, or honored.
Other Creative Ways to Make a Difference
Innovation in outreach helps messages about sexual violence reach new audiences. Think of new ways to get your community to the table. This might mean hosting an interactive exhibit in a local art gallery where attendees can write affirmations or responses. It could be launching a “consent scavenger hunt” that takes younger members of the community to local shops or public areas where they collect information and resources. Or perhaps it could take the form of a teal-painted mural project with local artists.
Whatever form your actions take, creative solutions are the ones that linger the longest. They raise questions and encourage introspection, particularly from those who may not make it to a traditional panel or training session.
It doesn’t matter if your influence is loud or subtle, seen or unsung — it counts. SAAM reminds us that healing isn’t solely the work of advocates, but a collective effort. And it starts with being present, however you can.
